Cementing device



Nov. 25; 1941. A. BOYNTON 2,263,566

CEMENTING DEVICE Filed Nov. 28, 1938 2 Shets-Shegt l Fig.3.

ALEXANDER sowvro/v,

VENTOR,

A TTORNE Y5.

Nov. 25, 1941.

A. BOYNTON CEMENTING DEVICE Filed Nov. 28, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ALEXANDER BOYNTON, I

//v\/ NTOR,

A T TORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 25, 1941 r UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CEMENTING DEVICE Alexander Boynton, San Antonio, Tex.

I Application November 28, 1938, Serial No. 242,776

6 Claims.

My invention relates to' a methodand means [or setting casing and liner in wells.

One of the objects is to enable use of the casing and liner in one continuous string of pipe of the same or different diameters in wells, particularly oil wells, in such manner that the drilling of the well may be completed before casing and liner is set; afterwhich, liquid cement may be placed between the casing and the wellbore above the liner.

Another object is to provide means for excluding migratory substances from coming into the well if the cement so placed should fail to set.

Heretofore, when it has been attempted to land casing with liner attached, upon a shoulder, a piece of pipe larger than the casing has been connected into the casing string by swagednipples, and the cement pumped out through holes in the enlarged pipe. If the cement failed to set, the well was usually lost, due to entrance into the well through the open holes, of liquids the casing, thus improperly restricting the diameter of the liner in the producing horizons of the well where it should be at least as g'eat as .that of the casing.

I overcome the difficulty mentioned and accomplish the objects stated by means of a valve and cementing device assembly connected into the casing and liner string. The assembly is "adapted to open the valve to allow cement to be pumped out of the casing through openings in the assembly by slightly raising the casing after the liner has landed upon a shoulder or upon bottom of the well; and is adapted to close the valve by again lowering the casing in order to prevent migratory substances from entering the well casing through said openings.

I attain the foregoing objects by mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which a Fig. 1 is a vertical section of the assembled device in its open position resting upon a shoulder in a well bore, and attached to well casing and liner.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device shown in Fig. 1. I y

Fig. 3 is mainly a vertical section of the device shown in Figs. 1 and 2 in its closed position resting upon a shoulder in well bore.

and other migratory substances which the Fig. 4 is mainly a vertical section of a modified form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 3 attached to the well casing and liner, with the liner landed on bottom and the weight of the casing resting on the liner just as the cementing operation has been completed."

Fig. 5 is a vertical section'of a portion of the device showing the position of all valves just before the cement has been completely expelled from the casing.

Fig. 6 is across section on the line 6--6, Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a cross section on the line |l, Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is a cross section on the line 88, Fig. 4.

Identical characters refer to identical parts throughout the several views.

It will be understood that the well .casing i0 extends to the top of the well and that the liner 9, which may be slotted or perforated opposite the producing formations, extends downwardly to proximate the bottom of the well.

It is apparent that welds lb and 2e are for the purpose of assembly. Inner valve member 2 is first placed within the outer valve member I; after which, the lower section la is tightly engaged within the upper section I; and valve-ring 2b is pressed over inner valve member 2. Cement float ball seat member 3, being first threadedly engaged within the member 2; the welds lb and 2e are then made.

The lower end of the member 2 is slidable within the member I. Circular shoulder la is adapted to engage the mating shoulder 2a when the openings 2d are somewhat above the valve seat Id, and at which time these openings are in communication between the interior of the well casing and the annular space S between the casing and the upper well bore A, as appears in Fig. 1. Thelower end member 2 is somewhat above the top of member la. when valve 20 engages upon seat Id, at which time the openings 2d are closed from communication with the annular space S exterior of the well casing as apshown.

pears in Fig. 3. Valve 20 and its seat Id are finished to .form a hermetic seal when engaged by the weight of casing iii.

A body of cement 4, reinforced by flange 3a, seals the slots 3b and aids in securing cement float ball seat member 3 within the member 2.

A body of cement 5, having a wooden disc 6 above it, is secured in position by means of theportion of enlarged internal diameter le. A tube 1, preferably of thin tin, having a flange Ia by which it is held in place while the cement is poured, extends axially through the cement 5 as The valve 8, preferably a soft brass and preferably weldedto a as shown at ea, is

aeeaeee then connected to the lower end of easing ll to which it-is preferably weldede shown at Ila and inserted into the well bore A, which is formed into a circular shoulder C where it Joins the lower bore of reduced diameter 3. This shoulder is usually provided proximately above the producing formationsof the well.

When the valve like lower end of member I strikes the shoulder C, the weight of the casing and liner will ordinarily crush the shoulder C somewhat and cause the final seating between the lower end of member I and the formation surrounding. the well bore to occur somewhat lower at D. It is understood that the lower bore B is of such depth as will not allow the liner 9 to land on the bottom, thereby causing all of the weight of both casing and liner to bear upon the seat D. This seat will, therefore, form an almost unbreakable seal which would ordinarily prevent the migration of liquidsfrom the space S into the lower regions of the well. It is. good practice, however,to pump liquid cement into annular space S in order to guard against the possible failure of seat D and to' also anchor the casing in the well. This procedure will now be described.

When the weight of the casing and liner land upon shoulder D, the assembly will be in the position shown in Fig. 3. The pump hoseshould then be connected to the upper end of the casing and water or mud fluid pumped into the casing in order to make sure that the member 9 has landed upon seat D and that the device is in the position shown in Fig. 3. Ifthis is so the pump will stall because openings 2d have no outlet due to engagement of valve 2c upon its seat Id. The casing is then raised slightly to place the assembly in the position shown in Fig. 1. A gelatinous plug adapted to form a barrier between the mud fluid and cement may then be placed in the casing at the top thereof,

, the plug being of such character as will be deformed by the pump pressure and forced through the cement float ball seat member 3 and openings 2d. Any desired quantity of cement is then pumped into the casing. Upon the top of the cement a ball ii, an inch or so larger than the opening through the cement float ball seat member 3, and an inch or so smaller than the inside diameter of the casing, is then placed upon top of the cement. e

The specific gravity of this ball is such that it will float on the liquid cement and sink in the mud fluid used to pump the cement down to place. The ball, which may be of gutta-percha or the like, will, therefore, float on the line of contact between the cement ,and mud fluids. The pump hose is again attachedto the casing, and mud fluid pumped in on top of the cement until the pump stalls. This will be when ball ll seats upon the cement float ball seat member 3, as shown by its dotted position in Fig. 1. The casing is again lowered'to. the position shown in Fig. 3. Proper time is then allowed for the cementto set. If the well should produce high pressure gas,

or other fluid, below. the seat D, such gas or fluid might raise the casing or otherwise escape upwardly past seat D into space S and prevent the cement from setting unless a vent'through the casing is provided. Valve I seats to prevent the downward escape of cement during the cementing operation, as shown in Fig. 1, and unseats to allow pressure fluid from below seat D to escape through the casing while the cement is setting, as shown in Fig. 3.

' A somewhat similar cementing device, to the one herein employed, is described in my Patents,

Nos. 1,594,448, 1,603,834, 1,603,835, 1,606,208,

1,641,915, 1,667,649, 1,673,616, 1,687,424, and

After the cement has set cement float ball seat member I, cement 4, disc 6, cement 5, valve 8, and tube 1 are drilled out. Slots 3b cause the cement float ball seat -member to be readily destroyed by the drill. Cement 5, and associated parts, are likewise easily removed by the drill. The removal of the cementing device and check valve assembly being easily accomplished, no great strain is exerted by the drill during this operation. Such provision is important, because the usual clockwise twist of the drill at any place in the casing or liner transmits an anti-clockwise unscrewing thrust upon all threads above the drill. For this reason it is good practice to weld the casing and liner joints for some distance above and below the cementing assembly.

It should be understood that the formation shoulder C is not entirely necessary to successful operation of this device. The well bore may be of one diameter from top to bottom of the well.

In such case the well liner 9 landing upon bottom of the well will cause the ports id to close.

If the shoulder C is not employed, the well bore being of the same diameter all the way, then valve 8 may beeliminated and the cement 5 may be solid with no opening through it. The shoul-.

and i3, and I31: and lid installed upon packer nipple H, these pairs of washers being cut to slip tightly over the nipple l4 upon which they are secured in place by rings l5 and i6, and by rings lid and l6a respectively, fastened upon the liner by slot welds l1 and I8} and Ila. and la respectively. The packer 12, preferably of canvas, will ordinarily be 5 to 8 feet long, and may be secured at its lower end upon the nipple l4 by being tightly wrapped with wire l9 which its engagement upon the nipple. An open top packer of this sort is known to the trade as a bootleg packer.

It will be noted that the packer i2 is funnel shaped and that the upper end extends somewhat above the openings :20. As the assembly is lowered into the well the canvas packer closes in around the pipe by contact with the well bore.

It will be also observed that the casing 20 which extends to the ground surface, or slightly above, inner valve member 22, outer valve member 23, packer nipple I4, and liner 9 constitute a continuous tubular conduit, the bottom end of which reaches to the bottom of the well.

. the liner lands on bottom of the bore.

device. By way of explaining the terminology it should be stated that the tubular extension above the cementing device is referred to as the casing, and the tubularextension below the cementing device is referred to as the liner. The casing has no lateral openings but the liner may be slotted or perforated opposite producing horizons to admit the well liquid.

In manufacturing the device a cement float ball seat member 28 engages upon the upper one of the several ring shaped inner extensions 22a. The ball check valve seat member 29 telescopes over the lower extension of member 28 and engages upon the lowest of said ring shaped inner extensions 22a. A body of cement 30 anchors the two ball seat members together and provides that they will be immovable until drilled out as will be later explained. The openings 29a are to provide additional anchorage for the cement. The openings 29b provide exit passages for the surplus liquid cement as the member 29 is pressed into position at which time the member 22 is, of course, inverted and left in that position until cement 30 sets. Nails 3| are for the obvious purpose of further securing fixed engagement between the member 28 andthe cement which it contacts.

The weld 23b is for the obvious purpose of securing together the upper and lower valve members 23 and 236. This weld is, of course, made after the inner valve member 22 has been inserted within the member 23, and after the pins 25, spring 26, and ball check valve 21 have been assembled as appears in Fig. 4.

Disc 32, which may be of wood, is inserted as shown after weld 23b has been made, the member 23a being then inverted and cement 33 poured and allowed. to set.- The inner ring shaped extensions 2341 are for the purpose of causing the cement 33 to remain in place as shown until drilled out aswill be later explained.

It will be observed that the pins 25 afford supporting base for spring '26 and that the upper end of this spring provides a-resting place for ball 21 which is held resiliently by the spring against the valve seat 290 in lower end of the member 29. A valve seat 28!: is also provided and adapted to engage cement float ball ll.

-The cementing device assembly constructed and installed as shown-in Fig. 4 is lowered into the. well bore, the lower belting washers l3a and l3a' being preferably proximately above the upper producing horizon'of the well when As the casing and liner are being lowered the openings 22c will, dueto the weight of the liner 9 and nipple H, be above the upper end of outer valve member 23 as appears in Fig. at which time the enlarged head 22b is engaged upon the internal circular shoulder 23'.

While the casing and liner assembly is being .lowered into the well, mud fluid in the well is kept from entering the casing by ball check valve 21 closed upon seat 290 as appears in Fig. 4 so that the string may be floated into the well if desired.

'When the liner lands on bottom of the well the members 22 and 23a contact, in which position the openings 220 are closed from communication with the well'bore exterior of the device by the outer valve member 23 due .to the close sliding fit between member 22 and the upper end of member 23. The clearance between these members should preferably be two to five thou-- sandths of an inch.

casing and the well bore being heavier than the To place cement between the casing 20 and the well bore, which operation is commonly referred to as "cementing the well," the casing is raised slightly until the p0rts.22c are open as shown in Fig. 5. Liquid cement is then pumped into the casing at the top of the well. The cement barrier 33 prevents the liquid cement from entering the liner 9 and nipple l4. 'When the I desired amount of cement has been pumped in, the cement float ball II is placed on top of the cement and the pump reapplied to force the cement downward with mud fluid as was explained for the first form of the invention. The ball ll being lighter than the liquid cement and heavier than the mud fluid, will float down on top of the cement and stall the pump by engaging seat 28a when the cement has all been expelled from the casing as was previously explained. In Fig. 5 top of the cement 2| shows the float ball l'l just before the last of the liquid cement has been pumped out of the casing. The arrows indicate the path and direction of flow of the cement. This flgure shows all valves open during the cementing operation. By comparison with Fig. 4, which shows all valves closed afterthe completion of the cementing operation, the action of all three valves is apparent.

The column of liquid cement now between the column of mud fluid in the casing would, when the pump stops, tend to come back into the easing except for the action of ball 21 whichis now urged upon its seat 29c by this superior weight of the cement plus the slight expansive force of spring 26. The casing is now again lowered to the position shown in Fig. 4. This closes the ports 220 from communication with the liquid cement which is now allowed to set.

The cement before it sets, being heavier than the mud fluid in and surrounding the liner in the lower regions of the well, might migrate to a lower level except for the packer l2. The upper end of this packer, extending somewhat above ports 220, was expanded and forced against the well bore by the pump action which forced the cement out through these ports. If the weight of the cement should collapse the packer, it would ordinarily be stopped by upper belting washers I3 and I3. The lower belting Washers than the well bore so that they will flex upward and cup as they are forced into the well bore. The smaller belting washers l3 and I3a' should preferably be of the same or slightly less diameter than the well bore. Each of the. beltin washers may be approximately to A" thick depending upon the texture and the diameter determined for each case as will be easily understood by those skilled in the art. Manifestly any number of belting washers may be used, as parclosed by telescoping the joint so that cement may be discharged to anchor the casing section and the ports thereafter closed, a valve seat of cementitious material above said ports and a the same reason members 28 and 29 should preferably be made of soft brass.

It will be understood that the drawings shown herewith are illustrative and that many changes in the construction shown can easily be made within the scope and purpose of this invention.

I claim:

1. A combination casing and liner assembly including a casing section, a liner section, a telescoping joint connecting said casing and liner, discharge ports in said joint to be opened and closed by telescoping the joint so that cement may be discharged to anchor the casing section and the ports thereafter closed, and a check valve to close said liner section against the cement in the casing section including a body of cement in the'liner section, a wooden seat thereon, and a valve member to engage said seat.

2. A combination casing and liner assembly including a casing section, a liner section, a telescoping joint connecting said casing and liner, discharge ports in said joint to be opened and closed by telescoping the joint so that cement may be discharged to anchor the casing section and the ports thereafter closed, and seats on said joint to seal the joint after said ports are closed including a beveled ring aflixed to the outside of said casing and a beveled seat therefor aflixed to said liner section.

3. A combination casing and liner assembly including a casing section, a liner section, a telescoping joint connecting said casing and liner, discharge ports in said joint to be opened and closed by telescoping the joint so that cement may be discharged. to anchor the casing section and the ports thereafter closed, said joint acting to form a seal with the well bore and to carry the weight of said liner section, a valve below the joint to force the cement out thru said-ports, and a valve above the ports to signal when the cement has been discharged.

4. A combination casing and liner assembly including a casing section, a liner section, a talescoping joint connecting said casing and liner, discharge ports in said joint to be opened and valve to'engage each end of said seat and a bootleg packer about said joint to receive the cement.

5. A landing and cementing device for wells comprising in combination a casing and a telescopic valve assembly upon the lower end thereof in a well bore, said assembly including a barrier therein, a restriction in said assembly above said barrier, said restriction having a vertical opening therethrough and a seat surrounding each end of said opening, a valve resiliently engaged upon the lower of said seats, discharge ports for cement slurry in said assembly, said ports being normally open when said assembly is telescopically distended and closed when same is telescopically contracted by encountering resistance in said bore, so that such slurry may be forced out through said ports from said easing into the bore of a well and kept there to hermetically close said bore around said-casing, and a valve element adapted to be moved downwardly upon said slurry and engage said upper seat to stall the pump employed to force said slurry into the well, said element, valve, restriction, and barrier being ariapted to be drilled out after said cement has se 6. A landing and cementing device for wells comprising in combination a casing and liner assembly in a well bore, said assembly including a casing section, a liner section below saidcasing section, a telescopic union between said sections, discharge ports for cement slurry in said union to be opened when the union is telescopically dis-' tended and to be closed when same is telescopically contracted, so that such slurry may be forced out ,through said ports from said casing section into the bore of a well to hermetically close said bore around said casing section when said union is distended and so that such slurry cannot return into said casing section when said union is contracted by opposed force of said liner section, a barrier in said assembly below said casing section, a restriction in said casing section proximate the lower end thereof, said restriction having a vertical opening therethrough and a seat surrounding the upper end thereof, a valve element, said element being adapted to pass downwardly upon said slurry and engage said upper seat to stall the pump employed to force said slurry into the well, said element, restriction, and barrier being adapted to be drilled out after said cement has set.

ALEXANDER BOYNTON. 

